Apparatus for dispensing garment straps



United States Patent [72] Inventors Charles Block [56] Rei'eren ces Cited 7 9" UNITED STATES PATENTS ""1 Y"" 1,843,692 2/1932 McDonald 21 1 51 [21] 784'759 1 930 805 10/1933 Hope; 221/59 [221 Wed 1831968 2044231 6/1936 Smith 211/s1x [45] named 3 163 291 12/1964 Poskin 211/51 [73] Assignee Undergarment Assemblies, Inc. 32l6583 11/1965 vani 211/51 Coping, New York p a corporation of New York Primary Examiner-JosephR. Leclair I Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Ballett Hoopes [54] APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GARMENT I f g ztg Drawn i ABSTRACT: A stack of garment straps is held together at one end by a band. That end is supported and engaged by an edge [52] US. Cl. 211/51, urged downwardly compressing the stack against the support j 221/45, 223/49 proximate the band. The band and edgehold the remainder of [51] Int. Cl. A471 7/00 the stack intact as the top strap is pulled lengthwise from the v [50] Field ofSearch..... 221/33, 45', stack for use in a garment making operation while a retaining pin mounted in said support prevents lateral movement of the stack with respect to the edge. 1

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 and ATTORNEY] v INVENTORS charlceIs Block eon intz. BY ken/(1dr APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GARMENT STRAPS This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing garment straps one by one for a garment making operation,

It has been the procedure in the past in supplying strap assemblies to garment manufacturers, to supply them in bundles of say two dozen pair, with a large safety pin holding the openings in the buckles of such straps. In the garment manufacturer's procedure, such bundles have been supported loosely on the sewing machine table and the operator has undone the pin and reached over and removed a strap at a time and then sewn the strap to the partially completed garment, This has necessitated an interruption in the sewing procedure. It has required the operator to direct her attention over to the bundle, to carefully pick up a strap off the bundle, to orient the strap and to position it for sewing. Because the bundle would be disturbed each time she removed one strap, she would again have to direct her attention over to the bundle to remove the next strap.

The constant refocusing of attention and careful manipulation and orientation of each strap required by the method of strap supply described above has caused the operator to lose much time and has been the source of annoyance and frustration. In addition, it has delayed the assembly procedure and has adversely affected the total time required for the garment making process with consequent loss to the manufacturer.

Under the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing straps in such a way that it is not necessary at all for the operator to focus her attention over to the strap supply. She can simply reach over without turning her head and grab a strap assembly and neatly remove it leaving the remaining assemblies together intact. When she reaches for the next strap, the strap will be in the same place. The strap are automatically available to her one after the other each perfectly and uniformly oriented. There is no need for her to turn her head toward the strap supply until it is exhausted.

In addition, the present apparatus keeps the straps flat, preventing creasing of the ribbon.

Other objects of the invention will be clear from a reading of the following specification and an examination of the drawings herein.

FlG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention shown with a supply of garment straps as it would be used in accordance with the method of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing an apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, an apparatus embodying the invention is generally designated in FIG. 1. It comprises a rectangular pate 12, upon which is mounted at one end a spacing block 14. A resilient strip 16 is secured against the upper surface of the spacing block 14 and extends cantilever fashion toward the opposite end of the plate. The

distal end of the strip 16 is turned downwardly as at 16a to present an edge 16b which faces the plate 12. As indicated, the strip 16 is resilient. When the apparatus is not loaded, the edge 16b engages the plate.

ln the plate adjacent either side fthe edge 16b is an opening 18 in which may be secured a restraining pin 20. In installation, the pin is disposed in whichever opening 18 is closer to the operator.

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus in full condition. The stacks of straps S comprises a plurality of straps S1 which have been stacked in alinement one flat on top of the other with the buckles S2 all at the same end of the stack. The opposite end S3 of the stack is encircled by a retaining band B. The band may be of plastic coated wire which retains its shape when once closed around the stack. It is important that the band have substantial thickness.

As shown, a portion of the end S3 of the stack is supported on the plate under the strip 16. The edge 16b is allowed to engage the upper strap immediately adjacent the band B with the band in between edge 16b and the block 14. In actual installation, the plate 12 is secured to the sewing machine table near the operator and the pin 20 is secured in the opening 18 closer the operator.

With the structure shown, the operator may reach over and grab the top strap S4 and pull it toward her. Because the strap is of smooth material for instance, nylon ribbon, it will readily slip out from under the top of the band B and from under the edge 16b without disturbing the remainder of the stack. The pin 20 will block the lateral movement of the stack toward the operator as she pulls in that direction. Subsequently, without looking at the stack or the apparatus 10, the operator may reach over and grab the next strap S5 which will then be on top and properly oriented. Each time, the operator gets a strap which is consistently oriented in the same direction and she is thereby able to perform her operations with a minimum of extraordinary manual adjustment of the strap one strap to the next.

The invention may be defined by the scope of the following claim language.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing garment straps one by one for a garment making operation comprising a rectangular plate, a spacer block mounted at one end of the plate, a resilient strip mounted on the block and extending cantilever fashion toward the other end of the plate, the distal end of the strip being downwardly directed and terminating in an edge facing the plate and adapted to hold resiliently a stack of such garment straps in compression between the edge and the plate, and a retaining pin mounted on the plate at one side of the edge and proximate thereto to prevent lateral movement of the stack with respect to the edge. 

